NEW DELHI: The Centre is drawing up a 'month to month' plan to deal with air pollution in Delhi and the national capital region rather than concentrating just on emergency measures as data show that the capital did not enjoy a single "good" category day this year.
"We need to set out tasks for every month. If we do not, the problems pile up and become a storm and we will say pollution has become uncontrolled. This can be called a graded plan or a systematic plan. Otherwise in November, 2017, we will have a similar situation," minister of state for forests and environment Anil Madhav Dave told TOI.
Asked about the Supreme Court's directive for "emergency" measures, the minister said, "In the last year, there was not even one day in the 'good' air quality category. We have to try and ensure more 'good' and 'moderate' days. What is being talked of is what to do on 'severe' days. That is needed too. But a situation where there are no good days must be redressed."
"If the patient's health is really poor, it will not take long for him to be moved to the ICU," Dave said describing Delhi's air quality. "The statistics tell an alarming story."
Dave said measures like odd-even yielded limited benefits. "We can experiment but should not politicise. If there is credit due, you will get it," he said without naming any political party for the scheme that was floated by the Delhi government. "It dealt with day time traffic but did not address heavy traffic at night. It made an impact but not as much as anticipated," he said.
On the action for NCR, Dave said the environment ministry will release an 'environment protection calendar', having a month-wise action plan, which is to be implemented in the March, 2017-February, 2018 period."Idea is to improve average (air quality) round the year," he said.
Air Quality Index (AQI) is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to the people. There are six AQI categories which are decided on the basis of ambient concentration of eight pollutants, including PM10 and PM2.5.
Dave said elements of the upcoming calendar will be an intrinsic part of the 'graded' action plan. "What you call graded is a monthly calendar that I want to place before all stake-holders, including citizens," the minister said. The plan is almost ready and not awaiting any public feedback though suggestions can be considered.
The calendar will have four components — earmarking specific tasks for individuals, groups (civic societies), state government and the Centre. "People and society also have roles to play. The government alone cannot do it. We will also come out with results of action every month," he said .
The calendar is expected to have a time-bound programme to implement various anti-pollution measures.
